Jake Paul’s highly anticipated fight against WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis has been abruptly canceled following serious legal troubles surrounding Davis. The cancellation was announced by Paul’s promotion company, Most Valuable Promotions, after Davis was accused in a recent civil lawsuit of assaulting his ex-girlfriend at a strip club where she worked. The lawsuit also alleges that Davis threatened to kill her twice in writing.
The news of the fight’s cancellation came late Monday, with Most Valuable Promotions confirming that the bout would no longer take place. Despite this setback, Jake Paul remains determined to fight before the end of the year, though against a different opponent. The promotion company also revealed plans for Paul to headline a future event on Netflix in 2025, with details about the opponent, location, and additional fights to be announced later.
The allegations against Davis have cast a shadow over what was expected to be a major boxing event. Gervonta “Tank” Davis has faced multiple legal issues in recent years, including earlier arrests for assault charges involving women. In one instance earlier this year, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting the mother of two of his children. Additionally, Davis was placed under house arrest in June 2023 after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a hit-and-run crash in 2020 that injured four people. He later violated the terms of his sentence and served jail time.
The civil lawsuit filed last week by Davis’s ex-girlfriend, Courtney Rossel, contains disturbing allegations. Rossel claims that Davis violently attacked her at the gentlemen’s club where she worked as a VIP cocktail server. According to the suit, Davis dragged her through various areas of the club, including a stairwell, kitchen, and back exit, before assaulting her in a parking garage. She further alleges that this was not an isolated incident, stating Davis physically assaulted and choked her at least four times during their five-month relationship. Rossel says she now suffers from PTSD and anxiety and does not feel safe living alone.
In response to the cancellation, Jake Paul did not hold back his condemnation of Davis. Taking to Instagram Stories, Paul labeled Davis “an actual walking human piece of garbage” and criticized him for unprofessional behavior, including showing up late to promotional shoots and making bizarre requests. Paul expressed his refusal to give Davis “a platform to grow his fans and to grow his bank account,” emphasizing that his company champions women and does not support abusers. He apologized to everyone involved in the fight preparation, especially the undercard fighters and his own team, who had invested significant time and effort only for the event to fall through.
Paul also took the opportunity to call out the broader issue of men with such behavior rising to prominence in culture and sports, urging fans to look beyond superficial aspects like “fake streetwear” and to seek deeper qualities to admire. This strong public denunciation reflects Paul’s stance not only on the fight cancellation but also on the responsibility athletes and public figures have in setting examples.
Most Valuable Promotions’ CEO Nakisa Bidarian issued a statement acknowledging the situation and confirming that the company had worked closely with all parties to handle the matter responsibly. While the specific fight with Davis would not proceed, the company remains committed to organizing a future event featuring Jake Paul. Bidarian thanked their partners, including Netflix, the Kaseya Center, and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, for their ongoing support amid the changes.
The fallout from Davis’s legal troubles is significant, given that the fight was expected to be a major event in the boxing calendar. The matchup between Davis, a celebrated lightweight champion, and Paul, a prominent figure in crossover boxing, had drawn considerable attention. The cancellation not only disrupts plans for fans and promoters but also adds to the ongoing scrutiny of Davis’s off-ring behavior.
Davis’s history of legal issues is notable. Aside from the recent civil suit and the assault-related arrests, he has faced other incidents that have affected his career. For example, less than two weeks before a previous fight against Hector Luis Garcia, Davis was arrested on assault charges against a woman, yet that fight went on as scheduled, with Davis winning by technical decision in the ninth round. This pattern of legal problems has increasingly overshadowed his achievements in the ring.
The controversy surrounding Davis comes at a time when athlete conduct and personal accountability are under heightened public examination. The sports community has been more vocal about condemning abusive behavior and supporting victims, reflecting wider societal movements against domestic violence and